Ulster Defense Regiment

The Ulster Defense Regiment (UDR) was an infantry regiment of the British Army that existed from 1970 to 1992 during The Troubles. The regiment was advertised in newspapers and on television, and its goal was to protect Northern Ireland from armed attack and sabotage from the Provisional IRA and the Ulster unionist paramilitaries. The UDR was formed with seven battalions, with four more battalions being added in the following years. In 1972, just 3% of its soldiers were Irish, with the rest being Ulster Protestants or British troops. In 1992, the UDR and the Royal Irish Rangers were amalgamated to form the Royal Irish Regiment.